The NCAA’s reputation, particularly in the enforcement area, may be at
an all time low, as evidenced by the NCAA’s own recent report
acknowledging that significant errors have been made.306 With concern over
head injuries and exploitation of football players at the FBS level rising, the
NCAA must be proactive in order to avoid a further crisis. It is doubtful that
the NCAA, as we know it, can survive a major public relations debacle
related to its failure to act to protect the health and well-being of its studentathletes—something
that is mandated by its own Constitution. It must
address the “play through injury” and “win at all costs” culture in college
football which its inaction has facilitated. If the NCAA persists in failing to
act, a single, tragic death that could have been avoided, or even a serious
head injury, in the future might trigger a media frenzy, which could threaten
the very survival of the NCAA and college football as we know it.3